Mid depth of colour, tawny but not too developed. A very complex and expressive nose, so much going on: sweet red fruit, dried cranberry, blueberry, stewed plums, fragrant tobacco, a whiff of milk chocolate, some damp earth, green peppercorn and smoke. Medium intensity nose, very appealing. Medium bodied palate with soft tannins. Well balanced with a smooth dry finish. Still quite fresh for its age. Will drink well for a couple of more years, maybe more. An excellent example of what Hunter Valley Shiraz can do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Long Easter Dinner: I feared this one might be too old but in contrast to some other Aussie wines with higher critical acclaim this one was still fully there. Very light on its feet, almost fragile, elegant with fully resolved tannins and nice fine acidity, medium- body. Not your typical Aussie Shiraz. More old world style. Subtle but candied dark and red fruit as a base with some roast aromas intermixing. Medium flavor intensity and not overly complex. I wouldn‘t hold-on much longer to your bottles - seems to be at its peak (no decant).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind at private wine & dine. Secondary horse stable flavours all over the place with only a hint of dark ripe fruit. On the palate still surprisingly like fresh berries and quite heavy still. Tannins have melted away, but still there with a peppery frame and some mint still left. Drinks very easily. A good experience overall, but borderline over-aged already. If you have some left, drink now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still dark black red with little sign of aging. Wonderful spicy leather, dark plum, cherry, tar and eucalyptus nose. Powerful on the palate with strong backbone of acidity. Drunk with bbq chicken marinated in a spicy tamarind sauce and it went really well. Still recommend a glass without food while cooking. 4+/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep Red. Intense nose. Dark berries, spice, pepper. Fine tannins well integrated oak and a long finish. This bottle has years to go. Minimal creep up the cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
taste: Full bodied with some nice tannins still persisting. Polished with good depth and balanced tones of dark red cherries, spice tones, black fruits, leather and a touch of violets on the back end.
overall: This was a high quality Aussie Shiraz. Showing off maturity, but with a lot of polish to it on both the nose and palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
More mature than previous bottle. Lots of undergrowth and animal flavours. Excellent balance and long. Again drunk with five spiced dunk and went well. 4/5 (90-93)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Noch extrem verschlossen. Erst nach Stunden des Dekantierens süßlich konzentrierte Anklänge. Kein marmeladiger überbordender Aussie-Shiraz, elegant und vielschichtig. Am zweiten Tag richtig gut und schön trinkbar. Nächste Flasche in frühestens 4 Jahren öffnen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very hunter valley nose of leathery saddle, with truffle and earth. Savoury and very complex palate with outstanding textural elements. Really excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1 hour. Still very deep and not showing its age. Lovely complex spicy blackberry fruit, some eucalyptus and hints of what I assume is meant by “sweaty saddle.” More fruit on palate with excellent balance and very long. Great with 5 spice duck breast, roast squash and lentils. 5/5 (95-98)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite restrained for Australian Shiraz with much more delicacy than I expected. The wine shows not much age on either the colour nor nose and still has fruity aspects on the palate which suggests to me that the wine has at least another decade. A really enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/15/2022 - BAJRiley Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mid depth of colour, tawny but not too developed. A very complex and expressive nose, so much going on: sweet red fruit, dried cranberry, blueberry, stewed plums, fragrant tobacco, a whiff of milk chocolate, some damp earth, green peppercorn and smoke. Medium intensity nose, very appealing. Medium bodied palate with soft tannins. Well balanced with a smooth dry finish. Still quite fresh for its age. Will drink well for a couple of more years, maybe more. An excellent example of what Hunter Valley Shiraz can do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2021 - Barnaby33 wrote:
Lovely combination of sweet red fruit and tannin, with a tilt. Not often I get an old Aussie that reminds me of Burgundy in a good way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2018 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
Long Easter Dinner: I feared this one might be too old but in contrast to some other Aussie wines with higher critical acclaim this one was still fully there. Very light on its feet, almost fragile, elegant with fully resolved tannins and nice fine acidity, medium- body. Not your typical Aussie Shiraz. More old world style. Subtle but candied dark and red fruit as a base with some roast aromas intermixing. Medium flavor intensity and not overly complex. I wouldn‘t hold-on much longer to your bottles - seems to be at its peak (no decant).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - sirpat00 wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind at private wine & dine. Secondary horse stable flavours all over the place with only a hint of dark ripe fruit. On the palate still surprisingly like fresh berries and quite heavy still. Tannins have melted away, but still there with a peppery frame and some mint still left. Drinks very easily. A good experience overall, but borderline over-aged already. If you have some left, drink now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2015 - nstow wrote: 93 Points
Still dark black red with little sign of aging. Wonderful spicy leather, dark plum, cherry, tar and eucalyptus nose. Powerful on the palate with strong backbone of acidity. Drunk with bbq chicken marinated in a spicy tamarind sauce and it went really well. Still recommend a glass without food while cooking. 4+/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2014 - kleal Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep Red. Intense nose. Dark berries, spice, pepper. Fine tannins well integrated oak and a long finish.
This bottle has years to go. Minimal creep up the cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - G.M. wrote: flawed
As with the 1995 vintage, this was disappointingly also flawed. Bought second hand off a seemingly unscrupulous vendor. The risk you take...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2012 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Second Annual Butcher&Larder dinner (Butcher&Larder, Chicago IL): nose: Mature and very well balanced nose of dark red cherries, spice tones, black fruits, earth tones, and leather notes as well. There was good depth to this as well.
taste: Full bodied with some nice tannins still persisting. Polished with good depth and balanced tones of dark red cherries, spice tones, black fruits, leather and a touch of violets on the back end.
overall: This was a high quality Aussie Shiraz. Showing off maturity, but with a lot of polish to it on both the nose and palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - nstow Likes this wine: 90 Points
More mature than previous bottle. Lots of undergrowth and animal flavours. Excellent balance and long. Again drunk with five spiced dunk and went well. 4/5 (90-93)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2012 - absolut wrote: 91 Points
Noch extrem verschlossen. Erst nach Stunden des Dekantierens süßlich konzentrierte Anklänge. Kein marmeladiger überbordender Aussie-Shiraz, elegant und vielschichtig. Am zweiten Tag richtig gut und schön trinkbar. Nächste Flasche in frühestens 4 Jahren öffnen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2012 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Very hunter valley nose of leathery saddle, with truffle and earth. Savoury and very complex palate with outstanding textural elements. Really excellent wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - nstow Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Still very deep and not showing its age. Lovely complex spicy blackberry fruit, some eucalyptus and hints of what I assume is meant by “sweaty saddle.” More fruit on palate with excellent balance and very long. Great with 5 spice duck breast, roast squash and lentils. 5/5 (95-98)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2009 - BLACK SHEEP wrote: 92 Points
Quite restrained for Australian Shiraz with much more delicacy than I expected. The wine shows not much age on either the colour nor nose and still has fruity aspects on the palate which suggests to me that the wine has at least another decade. A really enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment